Grip tight washer



June 27, 1967 D. DAMAST 3,327,365

GRIP TIGHT WASHER Filed Oct. 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l BY WW TTU/:N s

`Fume 27, 1937 D. DAMAST 3,327,365

GRIP TIGHT WASHER Filed Oct. 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet :L

United States Patent O 3,327,365 GRIP TIGHT WASHER David Damast, 22--14 40th Ave., Long Island City, N.Y. 11101 Filed Oct. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 492,537 Claims. (Cl. 24-265) This invention relates generally to fasteners for anchoring the ends of flexible handles of a handbag, pocketbook or the like in place.

The invention contemplates the provision of a rectangular sheet metal plate having prongs functioning to adequately secure a rectangular sheet metal washer around the plate as well as to secure the plate to the end of a flexible handle or strap.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a metallic sectional clasp for clamping the ends of a handle to a handbag or the like so that the handle cannot come apart or become accidentally displaced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metallic sectional clasp that is adapted to clamp in place any conventional type -of flexible handle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a clasp of this type that is rugged in construction, pleasing in appearance and economical to manufacture.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary side perspective view of a handbag embodying one form of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the outside of the impr-oved clasp anchoring the end of the handle to the body of the bag.

AFIG. 3is a similar view Vshowing the inside of the improved clasp; i

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the parts of FIG. 2 in disassembled relation.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective View of a handbag showing a clasp embodying a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective View of the clasp of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing a clasp embodying another modified form `of the invention.

FIG. l0 is a rear perspective view of the clasp of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown a conventional handbag 19 formed of leather or other suitable handbag material and having a body with side walls 12, 12, end walls 14, 14 and a bottom wall (not shown). The top of the tbody is open and is closed by metal inverted U-shaped frames 16, 16 secured to the top edges of the side walls 12, 12 and pivoted to the end walls 14, 14 by pivot pins 16. A spherical knob 1S releasably holds the frames in closed position. A pair of flexible leather strap handles 20, 20 is secured to the side walls 12, 12 adjacent the tops thereof and adjacent the ends thereof.

The handles 20 are secured at the ends 22 thereof by means of clamp structures 24, 24 made in accordance With one form of the invention. The clasp structures are similar in construction and each is sectional comprising a supice porting plate member 26 and a cooperating anchoring washer plate member 28. The supporting plate member 26 has a rectangular shaped sheet metal stamped body with a central rectangular shaped cutout portion 30 forming a clearance vfor instruck prongs 32, 32 at the ends of said cutout portion.

The anchoring washer plate 28 has a sheet -metal stamped body substantially rectangular in shape in plan. The body has a central rectangular shaped cutout portion 34 and has solid end portions 36 offset from the plane of the body portions and formed with semi-circular depressions 38 with the straight edges 40 thereof intersecting the cutout portion 34. Teeth 42 are formed on the edges of the cutout portion 34 and extend inwardly at right angles to the plane of the body in the direction of the depressions 38.

In use, the side walls 12, 12 of the body of the handbag are each formed adjacent the top thereof adjacent each side with a horizontal slot 44 and lbelow said slot 44 and closely spaced from each end thereof there is a short vertical slot 46. The at end 22Y of the strap handle 20 is inserted through the horizontal slot 44 from the outside to the inner surface of the side Wall, the end projecting downwardly to a point below the bottom ends of the vertical slots 46. The supporting plate 26, which preferably is gold-plated, is mounted on the outside of the wall 12, between the slots 46 by inserting the prongs 32 therethrough to the inner or rear surface of the side wall 12. The prongs extend on both sides of the inserted handle end and extend radially inwardly of the handle end. The anchoring washer plate 28 is then positioned across and over the inserted handle end 22 with the radially extending ends of the prongs extending through the cutout portion 34 in said washer plate28 adjacent the straight edges 40 of the depressions 38, with the teeth 42 on the edges of the cutout portion 34 contacting the material of the handle end. By a suitable pressing tool, the inwardly extending ends of the prongs 32 are bent over the depressions 38 and seated therein and the teeth 42 are driven into bitting engagement with the handle end thereby securely anchoring the handle end in place on the side wall 12 of the handbag. The 4clamping action of the anchoring washer plate 28 and the biting engagement of the teeth 42 prevent the handle from loosening or pulling out. The more pressure is applied to the handle 20 the tighter the teeth 42 grip the handle, as one row of teeth 42 works against the other row of teeth.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, a modified form of supporting plate mem-ber 26 is sh-own for coopera-tion with the anchoring washer plate member 28 of FIG. 1. The plate member 26 comprises a single rectangular shaped sheet metal solid plate 48 bent at its ends to form short anges 50, extending perpendicularly to the plane of the body of the plate, the flanges continuing into prongs 32 forming extensions of the flanges.

The plate member 26 is used similarly to plate member 26 by inserting the prongs 32 through the slots 46 to the inside of the handbag, the prongs extending on both sides of the inserted handle end and extending radially inwardly of the handle end. The prongs are then bent over the depressions 38 and sea-ted therein and the plate members 26 and 28 clamped to the side wall 12 and handle end 22'.

Another modified form of supporting plate member 26 for use with the anchoring washer plate member 28 of FIG. l is shown in FIGS. 9 to ll, inclusive. The supporting plate member 26 comprises an elongated substantially rectangular shaped plate member 52 and a shorter plate member 54 similar in shape and construction to the plate member 26 of FIG. 8 secured to the plate member 52. The plate member 52 has an elongated substantially rectangular shaped body having flaring bowed ends 58 with flaring extensions 60. Midway the ends of the body 56, curved projections 62 and 64 extend upwardly and downwardly, respectively. One surface of the body 56 is flat as indicated at 66 and the other surface is uneven and decorated as indicated at 68.

A round button-like projection 70 is formed on the flat surface 66 of the body centrally thereof, the projection being formed with an annular groove 72.

The plate member 54 has a rectangular shaped sheet metal plate-like body bent at its ends to form short flanges 76 extending perpendicularly to the plane of the body of the plate, the flanges continuing into prongs 78 forming extensions of the flanges. A hole 80 is formed in the center of the plate-like body to receive the button-like projection 70, the edge of the hole seating in the groove 72. The prongs 78 extend outwardly of the flat surface of the plate member 52.

In use, the prongs 78 are inserted through the vertical slots 46 and extend on both sides of the inserted handle end and inwardly of the handle end. The prongs 78 are then bent over the depressions 38 of the plate member 28 and are seated therein whereby the plate members 26 and 28 are clamped to the side wall 12 and handle end 22".

The modified form of supporting plate member 26a for use with the anchoring washer plate member 28 of FIG. l shown in FIG. 12 differs from the supporting plate member 26' of FIG. 8 merely in Ithat the body of the plate 48a instead of being flat is slanted vat 'both sides of its center line as indicated at 80 slanting inwardly from each side edge to the center thereof, leaving larger clearance for the end of the handle and providing a biting action along the edges of the plate body.

In FIG. 13, still another modified form of supporting plate member 26x for use with the anchoring Washer plate member 28 of FIG. l is shown. The plate `26x is elliptical in shape and is provided with a central rectangular shaped cutout portion 30x with instruck prongs 32x at the ends of the cutout portion. Plate 26x is used with plate member 28 similar to plate 26 for clamping the handle end to the side wall of the handbag.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is' to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made Within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A handbag handle fastener composed of a supporting plate and a washer plate, the washer plate having a rectangular shaped body with solid end portions and with a central cutout portion, teeth along at least one ylong edge of the cutout por-tion, said teeth being disposed inwardly and perpendicularly of the plane of the body of said supporting plate, the solid end portions ybeing offset from the plane of the body of said washer plate, and having depressions the-rein, the supporting plate having a rectangular shaped body with a cutout portion and with instruck prongs extendable through the ends of the cutout portion of the washer plate and being 'bendable over and adapted to be seated in the depressions.

2. A handbag handle fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein the handle is flexible, theY teeth are along both long edges of the cutout portion of the washer plate and are disposed inwardly and perpendicularly of the plane of the body of the washer plate biting into the handle, the more pressure is applied to the handle, the tighter the teeth grip the handle, the teeth along one edge working against the tee-th along the other edge.

3. A handbag fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein the end portions of the washer plate are offset from the plane of the body of said washer plate and the depressions are in said offset end portions.

4. A handbag handle fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein the supporting plate and Washer plate are composed of sheet metal.

5. A handbag handle fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein the supporting plate is adapted to be positioned on the exterior surface of a side wall of a handbag having horizontal and vertical slots and the washer plate yadapted to be positioned on the interior surface of the side wall over said slots.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,093,687 9/193'7 Kluger 150--33 2,112,707 3/1938 Reiter 24-265 2,234,577 3/ 1941 Reiter 24-265 3,279,512 10/1966 Paynor 150-33 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Examiner. 

1. A HANDBAG HANDLE FASTENER COMPOSED OF A SUPPORTING PLATE AND A WASHER PLATE, THE WASHER PLATE HAVING A RECTANGULAR SHAPED BODY WITH SOLID END PORTIONS AND WITH A CENTRAL CUTOUT PORTION, TEETH ALONG AT LEAST ONE LONG EDGE OF THE CUTOUT PORTION, SAID TEETH BEING DISPOSED INWARDLY AND PERPENDICULARLY OF THE PLANE OF THE BODY OF SAID SUPPORTING PLATE, THE SOLID END PORTIONS BEING OFFSET FROM THE PLANE OF THE BODY OF SAID WASHER PLATE, AND HAVING DEPRESSIONS THEREIN, THE SUPPORTING PLATE HAVING A RECTANGULAR SHAPED BODY WITH A CUTOUT PORTION AND WITH INSTRUCK PRONGS EXTENDABLE THROUGH THE ENDS OF THE CUTOUT PORTION OF THE WASHER PLATE AND BEING BENDABLE OVER AND ADAPTED TO BE SEATED IN THE DEPRESSIONS. 